Retired numbers in association football

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Image:Feyenoord legioen.jpg
Retired number at Feyenoord

Football clubs around the world sometimes retire squad numbers to recognise players' loyal service, or tragic death.

Contents

[edit] Background

This practice, long established in the major North American sports, is a recent development in football since squad numbers were not widely used until the 1990s. Before then, it was typical for players in the starting lineup to be issued numbers 1 to 11 by formation/position on a match-by-match basis, and substitutes to be numbered from 12 upwards, meaning a player might wear different numbers during the season if they were to play in different positions for tactical reasons, or simply not be a regular in the starting lineup.

Retiring a player's number usually occurs after the player has left the team or retired. It honors a player who has meant so much to his club that they retire the shirt number that the player wore during their time there, meaning no other player is permitted to use that number in the future. In some cases, such as Jason Mayélé, Vittorio Mero, Marc-Vivien Foé, Miklós Fehér, Ray Jones and Antonio Puerta, numbers have been retired to posthumously honour a player who died in tragic circumstances while still active. Also, Norwegian club Fredrikstad have retired Dagfinn Enerly's number following an on-pitch accident that left Enerly paralyzed.

National teams Argentina and Cameroon have been prevented by FIFA rules dealing with squad numbers for Finals tournaments, from retiring the numbers of Diego Maradona (10) and Marc-Vivien Foé (17) respectively, but in other competitions or friendlies national associations may assign numbers according to criteria of their choosing.

Some clubs dedicate a number to their fans, and do not issue it to any player. The most common number for this practice is 12, from descriptions of the fans as the twelfth man. Clubs and teams reserving number 12 for their supporters include:

Reading reserve the number 13 for their supporters, Panathinaikos reserve this number in honour of Gate 13, the ultras based in the respective gate in home matches. Bristol City have allocated number 31 to their fans, while Oldham Athletic reserve the number 40 for their fans.

[edit] Retired numbers

Country Team # Player Position Years Notes Ref
Image:Flag of Austria.svg Austria SK Rapid Wien 5 Image:Flag of Austria.svg Peter Schöttel Defender 1986-2001
Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Vasco da Gama 11 Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Romário Striker 1985-1987, 2000-2001, 2005-2006 [1]
Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic Dynamo České Budějovice 8 Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel Poborský Midfielder 1991-1994, 2005-2007
Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark AaB 12 Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Torben Boye Defender 1984-2002
Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Næstved BK 7 Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Rasmus Green Midfielder 2005-2006 posthumous
Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Viborg FF 22 Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Søren Frederiksen Striker 1989-1994, 1998, 2001-2005 [2]
Image:Flag of England.svg England Chelsea F.C. 25 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Gianfranco Zola Forward 1996-2003
Image:Flag of England.svg England Hartlepool United F.C. 25 Image:Flag of England.svg Michael Maidens Midfielder 2004-2007 posthumous [3]
Image:Flag of England.svg England Manchester City 23 Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg Marc-Vivien Foé Midfielder 2002-2003 posthumous [4]
Image:Flag of England.svg England Manchester United 36 Image:Flag of England.svg Jimmy Davis Midfielder 1999-2003 posthumous
Image:Flag of England.svg England QPR 31 Image:Flag of England.svg Ray Jones Forward 2006–2007 posthumous [5]
Image:Flag of France.svg France Lens 17 Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg Marc-Vivien Foé Midfielder 1995-1999 posthumous
Image:Flag of France.svg France Lyon 16 Image:Flag of France.svg Luc Borrelli Goalkeeper 1998-1999 posthumous
Image:Flag of France.svg France Lyon 17 Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg Marc-Vivien Foé Midfielder 2000-2002 posthumous
Image:Flag of France.svg France Sedan 29 Image:Flag of France.svg David di Tommaso Centre back 2001-2004 posthumous [6]
Image:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Wacker Burghausen 11 Image:Flag of Slovakia.svg Marek Krejčí Striker 2004-2007 posthumous
Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary Ferencváros 2 Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Tibor Simon Right fullback 1985-1999 posthumous
Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary Kispest AC/Honvéd 10 Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Ferenc Puskás Deep-lying forward 1939-1956 posthumous
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy AC Milan 6 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Franco Baresi Sweeper 1977-1997 [7]
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Siena 4 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Michele Mignani Centre back 1996-1997, 1998-2006
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy AS Roma 6 Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Aldair Centre back 1990-2003 [8]
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Atalanta 14 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Federico Pisani Deep-lying forward 1991-1997 posthumous [9]
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Brescia 10 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Roberto Baggio Deep-lying forward 2000-2005
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Brescia 13 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Vittorio Mero Defender 1998-2001, 2002 posthumous [10]
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Cagliari 11 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Gigi Riva Striker 1963-1978 [11]
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Chievo Verona 30 Image:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Jason Mayélé Left/right winger 2001-2002 posthumous [12]
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Genoa 6 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Gianluca Signorini Sweeper 1988-1995 posthumous
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Inter Milan 3 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Giacinto Facchetti Left fullback 1961-1978 posthumous
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Messina 41 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Salvatore Sullo Midfielder 2001-2007 [13]
Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy Napoli 10 Image:Flag of Argentina.svg Diego Maradona Midfielder 1984-1991
Image:Flag of Israel.svg Israel Hapoel Beersheba 6 Image:Flag of Zambia.svg Chaswe Nsofwa Striker 2007 posthumous
Image:Flag of Mexico.svg México América 10 Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Cuauhtémoc Blanco Striker 1992-1997, 1998-2000, 2002-2004, 2005-2007 [14]
Image:Flag of Mexico.svg México Atlante 12 Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Félix Fernández Goalkeeper 1989-1998, 1999-2001, 2002-2003
Image:Flag of Mexico.svg México Club Deportivo Guadalajara 22 Image:Flag of Mexico.svg José Martínez Midfielder 1970-1981 posthumous
Image:Flag of Mexico.svg México UANL Tigres 7 Image:Flag of Peru.svg Gerónimo Barbadillo Midfielder 1977-1982
Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands AFC Ajax 14 Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Johan Cruijff Midfielder 1964-1973, 1983-1984 [15]
Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Utrecht 4 Image:Flag of France.svg David di Tommaso Centre back 2004-2005 posthumous [16]
Image:Flag of Norway.svg Norway Fredrikstad 8 Image:Flag of Norway.svg Dagfinn Enerly Winger 2004-2005 [17]
Image:Flag of Poland.svg Poland Legia 10 Image:Flag of Poland.svg Kazimierz Deyna Midfielder 1966-1978 posthumous
Image:Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal Benfica 29 Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Miklós Fehér Striker 2002-2004 posthumous [18]
Image:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Aberdeen 0 Image:Flag of Morocco.svg Hicham Zerouali Striker 1999-2002 posthumous
Image:Flag of the United States.svg USA Cosmos 10 Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Pelé Striker 1975-1977
Image:Flag of the United States.svg USA LA Galaxy 13 Image:Flag of the United States.svg Cobi Jones Midfielder 1996-2007 [19]
Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Kalmar FF 15 Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Johny Erlandsson Winger 1973-1988 [20]
Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Norrköping 18 Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Stefán Þórðarson Striker 2004-2007 [21]

[edit] Special Cases

Team # Player Position Years Notes
Image:Flag of Romania.svg Dinamo Bucureşti 11 Image:Flag of Romania.svg Cătălin Hâldan Midfielder 1994-2000 During the second half of the friendly match Şantierul Naval Olteniţa - FC Dinamo Bucureşti, Hâldan suffered a cerebral vascular accident and later died at a local hospital in Olteniţa.
Image:Flag of Italy.svg AC Milan 3 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Maldini Left fullback 1984-2008 The shirt has not been fully retired. Maldini has given consent for his sons to adopt the number 3 shirt if either of them play professionally for the club.[22]
Image:Flag of South Africa.svg Orlando Pirates 22 Image:Flag of South Africa.svg Lesley Manyathela Striker -2003 The club retired the number 22, after Manyathela died in a car crash in August, 2003. However, Confederation of African Football rules state that shirts must be numbered 1-30 in continental club competitions, so Pirates now have another player wearing 22.
Image:Flag of Israel.svg Maccabi Tel-Aviv 12 Image:Flag of Israel.svg Meni Levi Defender During a game between Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem, Levi chest-controlled and kicked the ball, ran back to defend, then collapsed. He returned to his feet, and then collapsed a second time. He was subsequently on a life-support machine, and has since returned home.[23]
Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Santos FC 10 Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Pelé Striker 1956-1974 The club had retired the shirt but re-issued it soon after, due to Conmebol rules, which state that shirts must be numbered 1-25 in continental club competitions (such as Copa Libertadores, Copa Conmebol, Copa Sudamericana, amongst others).
Image:Flag of Peru.svg Universitario de Deportes 22 Image:Flag of Peru.svg José Luis Carranza Midfielder 1986-2004 The club had retired the shirt in 2005 but re-issued it soon after, due to Conmebol rules, which state that shirts must be numbered 1-25 in continental club competitions (such as Copa Libertadores, Copa Conmebol, Copa Sudamericana, amongst others).
Image:Flag of Scotland.svg Dunfermline Athletic 4 Image:Flag of Scotland.svg Norrie McCathie Defender 1996 The club retired the number after club captain McCathie was found dead in his home on January 8, 1996, as a result of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.[24] At that time, Scottish League clubs used shirt numbers 1-11, so for the remainder of the 1995-96 season, 12 was used instead. However, the number was not retired permanently, and has been reissued since.
Image:Flag of Norway.svg Stabæk 7 Image:Flag of Norway.svg Christer Basma Central defender 1995-1998 The club retired the number to honor his services for the club.[25] The retirement was revoked ahead of the 2004 season, the number given to Henning Hauger.
Image:Flag of Mexico.svg América 10 Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Cuauhtémoc Blanco Striker 1992-1997, 1998-2000, 2002-2004, 2005-2007 The shirt number will be retired only for a period of 5 years, starting on June 2007. However, due to Conmebol rules -which state that shirts must be numbered 1-25 in continental club competitions- jersey #10 was worn by Leonin Pineda during Copa Sudamericana 2007 edition.
Image:Flag of Mexico.svg UANL Tigres 7 Image:Flag of Peru.svg Gerónimo Barbadillo Midfielder 1977-1982 The number 7 in Tigres has been immortalized to honor Gerónimo Barbadillo. However, since it is a requirement for teams playing the Copa Libertadores to list their players with numerical order, the #7 has been given only in these special occasions to special players. In 2005, the #7 was given to Claudio Nuñez, and in 2006, to Walter Gaitán for the Copa Libertadores competition.
Image:Flag of Spain.svg Sevilla FC 16 Image:Flag of Spain.svg Antonio Puerta Left back, Left winger 2004-2007 The shirt has not been fully retired. Puerta's posthumous son will be able to adopt the number 16 shirt if he reaches Sevilla's first team.[26]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Vasco honour Romario by retiring number 11 shirt. ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  2. ^ Jeg var rørt. Viborg FF. Retrieved on 1 November 2005.
  3. ^ Pools retire Maidens' number 25. BBC News. Retrieved on 29 October 2007.
  4. ^ "City v Arsenal", Match programme, Manchester City v Arsenal, 2006-08-26, pp. 82. 
  5. ^ "Remembering Ray - Number 31", Queens Park Rangers F.C., 2007-08-28. Retrieved on 2007-08-28. 
  6. ^ Utrecht defender probably died of heart attack. Sports Network. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  7. ^ Legends - Franco Baresi. Planet World Cup. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  8. ^ Aldair says arrivederci to Genoa. ATL World Cup Soccer. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  9. ^ L'addio a Federico Pisani. Una delle pagine più tristi della storia neroazzurra. Atalanta BC Website. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  10. ^ Brescia in lutto (Italian). RAI Sport. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  11. ^ Italy 2-0 Russia. Channel 4. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  12. ^ Chievo honour Mayele. BBC News. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  13. ^ Sullo ceduto all'Avellino, buona fortuna Sasà... (Italian). FC Messina official website. Retrieved on 27 January 2007.
  14. ^ Retira America el 10 del Cuauh como tributo. El Universal.
  15. ^ On April 18 2007, AFC Ajax decided to retire the number 14 shirt in honour of Johan Cruijff and in celebration of his 60th birthday
  16. ^ Utrecht defender honored. Sports Network. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  17. ^ NTB. "FFK freder Enerlys draktnummer", Dagbladet, 10 August 2007. Retrieved on [[2007-08-13]]. (Norwegian) 
  18. ^ A death brings fear to the field. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 9 September 2006.
  19. ^ Galaxy earns tie with Red Bulls. Fox Soccer. Retrieved on 18 October 2007.
  20. ^ 80-talets sista allsvenska skägg. kffsnack. Retrieved on 25 August 2007.
  21. ^ Númer Stefáns hjá Norrköping aldrei notað aftur (Icelandic). Vísir.is. Retrieved on 23 October 2007.
  22. ^ "Maldini shirt waits for 3G", Channel 4, 2007-05-26. Retrieved on 2007-05-26. 
  23. ^ Levi continues rehab at home. Eternal-Allegiance. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  24. ^ NMBF Profile. Norrie McCathie Benevolent Fund. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
  25. ^ Stabæk - Rosenborg match report (Norwegian). Stabæk IF official site. Retrieved on 2007-03-17.
  26. ^ "SDel Nido announces Sevilla will retire number 16", Marca, 2007-09-01. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. 
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